Let's see what all the fuss is with Borneo...

Mt Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. From 1900 Metres...
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Ah, what a good decision to leave Thailand for Borneo!  People here are so friendly, no one is trying to scam you (at least they've done it really painlessly if they have...), and accomodation, food, travel is tremendous value.

So, a little background on Borneo...I'm currently sitting in an internet shop in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah - which is the big island in the N. of Malaysia.  The island is made up of Sabah and Sarawak, and was under British rule for quite some time - don't know the dates, so if you're bored, google away baby! I flew from Phuket Thailand into KL (Kuala Lumpur) and then got another flight into KK (Kota Kinabalu) which is the big city in Sabah, and a great base for exploring one massive chunk of granite known as Mt Kinabalu. I've just finished summitting Kinabalu today, and I'm back in town to update the Blog before my big flight to Africa tomorrow night via Singapore.  Yes, I'm a bit tired...

Pitcher plant on the trek up mt Kinabalu - pretty cool little plants...
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So, Mt KInabalu is really the reason I came here (people also come here to visit the Orangutang rehab centre in Sepilok, but I ran out of time, and besides, monkeys disturb me...they're soooo clever you know...always playing tricks - like stealing credit cards while being hugged by georgeous Scandinavian women who feel sorry for them...sorry, don't know where that rant came from - must be altitude sickness). As for the Mountain, it is one impressive peak - highest peak East of Himalayas (excpet for one in New Guinea, but we're not talking New Guinea are we?) At 4100 m high, it towers over the equatorial rainforest, and allows climbers to go from the stifling tropical heat n humidity (32 C today) to around minus 10 at the summit at 6 AM.  It felt really cold after being spoilt in Sri Lanka and Thailand!

Gareth and I huddling in the wee morning hours -near the summit of KInabalu.
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Started climbing early yesterday (and was really lucky to get a climbing pass- most people book months in advance, I booked 3 days in advance and lucked out with a cancellation...such a planner heh?), rested for about 7 hours at 3200 M elevation, then up at 2:30 AM to make the push for the summit (4100 M), got there at 5:45 AM and then descended to 1800 M by 1300.  Did I say I'm tired?  It was a pretty tough trek, but absolutely georgeous at sunrise.  Well worth it.  See the photos of me and Gareth huddling (not cuddling) in the cold morning hours.

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Other than climbing Kinabalu, I did a day trip to an island (Sapi) which was lovely - great snorkelling - saw a puffer fish, and a whole load of others whose names elude me. That's it. Time for a cold Carlsberg and a good nap.  Tomorrow is the big flight (well, 3 of them actually...)to Johannesburg, S.A.  A bit nervous for this, but I'm sure it'll be an excellent adventure - they always are.

Thanks for reading, and all the best folks!

Scott